Digital BW, The Print

Jo

Having a RIP always provides more options and control. QTR is indeed 
great. And yes, you can play around with different inks, but be 
forewarned it will seriouly curtail your productivity (making usable 
prints)initiallly. And no, I am afraid there are no proven b/w inks 
for use with gloss type papers. That does not mean there are no 
alternative inks - there are many. But, you will face one of the 
following problems (1) gloss differential with pigment type inks from 
MIS, InkjetMall, etc or (2) Metamerism from dye type inks from Lyson

The 2400 (or 4800 if you want larger prints) will be such a dramatic 
improvement over your current 2200 that you may find all the messing 
around rather unnecessary. And yes, you can use QTR will the 2400. 

For glossy, semi-glossy prints on the 2200 using Epson inks, QTR will 
NOT reduce the pesky problem of bronzing/gloss differential. I forgot 
to add earlier that if you are willing to spray coat (or laminate) 
your prints than the bronzing/gloss differential can be reduced or 
even eliminated. But perfecting spraying techniques is another PhD 
project.

I am still under the assumption that you do not want to make a career 
out of playing with inks. Currently there are no proven third-party 
pigment type b/w inks for the 2200 which will beat the 2400 out-of-
the-box in the bronzing/gloss differential area.

Good luck, and if you can, sign up with Tom O'Connell's monthly print 
exchanges. You get to see a variety of inks and papers.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBW-PrintExchanges/

I am working on a potential (unproven, no fade resistance data) 
solution with NanoChrome inks, and if you are interested in playing, 
send me an email, and I will walk you through it.

Shilesh

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Joanne Emerson" 
<jojo_xmodel@y...> wrote:
>
> 
> Thank you, Shilesh! 
> 
> Will using a RIP provide more options for me?
> I have downloaded and installed a quadtone rip, are there special 
> inks I can buy for glossy or semi gloss papers if I use this 
> software?
> 
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Shilesh Jani" 
> <shileshjani@b...> wrote:
> >
> > Jo,
> > 
> > Welcome to this sometimes neurotic, disfunctional group.
> > 
> > I am going to assume you do NOT want to mess with loading your 
own 
> > inks, and playing around with RIPs, etc. Not knowing what you 
find 
> > lacking in the 2200 printer (and there are many limitations 
> there), I 
> > can tell you you have 2 options that will give you better 
> Gloss/Semi 
> > Gloss prints straight out of the box:
> > 
> > (1) Epson R2400 using the Epson Advanced Black and White (ABW) 
> mode. 
> > You will get better black density (Dmax) and a more neutral 
print. 
> > You can make the prints cooler, warmer, or other hues with 
> relative 
> > ease with ABW. The drawback is that there is still some residual 
> > bronzing and gloss differential. But many people live with it, 
> quite 
> > happily.
> > (2) HP printers with their Vivera inks. Make sure you look at a 
> model 
> > that supports the b/w ink cartridges. You will get excellent 
> gloss, 
> > semi-gloss prints. The drawback is that you are limited to the 
> > recommended HP papers, which are not completely water proof. The 
> > prints dry down just fine after 24 hours.
> > 
> > One way to go about is to take a lap-top loaded with the printer 
> > drivers for the printer (down-load from manufacturer web site), a 
> USB 
> > cable, and head over to CompUsa. Ask them to hook up their 
display 
> > printers. If the manufacturer rep is around, you may not even 
have 
> to 
> > buy the paper for the respective printers. Try them out, and see 
> if 
> > they suit your needs.
> > 
> > Hope this helps.
> > 
> > Shilesh
> > 
> > --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Joanne 
> Emerson" 
> > <jojo_xmodel@y...> wrote:
> > >
> > > Greetings everyone!
> > > 
> > >  A photographer friend recommended this group to provide me 
with 
> > > some answers to digital printing on glossy/semi-gloss papers.
> > > 
> > > I'm a former model who is now working at the other end of the 
> > camera 
> > > photographing other models to help them build and develop their 
> > > books. When I shoot film I have access to a wet darkroom, it's 
> > > messy, very time consuming but the results are quite good. For 
> > > digital printing (Epson 2200 and high gloss/semi gloss papers) 
> the 
> > > results don't compare to silver prints. But I'd prefer to shoot 
> > > digital and print on glossy papers, since b&w gloss prints are 
> the 
> > > industry standard requested by agencies for modeling 
portfolios. 
> > > 
> > > Can someone make some recommendations for inks that will 
improve 
> > the 
> > > quality of my digital prints on gloss papers. Hope to hear back 
> > from 
> > > someone soon.
> > > 
> > > Have a wonderful day!
> > > Jo
> > >
> >
>